Those are bold comparisons, but Lenae and Lacy’s alchemy on Crush bears them out. When Lacy works with artists like Kendrick or Tyler, the Creator,
he often pushes them to change their style to adapt to his own delicate style of soul and funk. With Lenae, they’re exploring together, and “ Sticky,”
the EP’s irresistibly catchy single, makes it clear they’ve found something special. On the song, Lenae’s not just proffering lyrics about a crummy
relationship—she slips and slides through cadences over Lacy’s unconventional riffs, and her “woo-hoo-hoo”-ing is as muscular as the bass. She’s
got the range to take on Lacy’s contemporary SoCal soul.